The Senate passed major water infrastructure legislation Thursday that would help address extreme weather threats nationwide and kick-start work to control floods, improve navigation and restore ecosystems.
Passage of the “Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024” — named after Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), the retiring chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee — sets up work on crafting a compromise water projects bill before the end of the year. The House passed a version of the bill last month by a vote of 359-13.
The Senate package, which passed by unanimous consent as lawmakers were preparing to leave for August recess, would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with 13 construction projects that would reduce the risk of damages from storms in coastal communities and improve navigation at important shipping hubs like Baltimore’s harbor.
It would also direct the corps to carry out 83 feasibility studies on a range of water and weather challenges — from wildfire recovery in Hawaii to hurricane risks on the Gulf Coast.
